Foreign reaction videos show Chinese cultural resonance

Illustration: Liu Xiangya/Global Times

In recent years, reaction videos to music and other performances have been gaining popularity online worldwide. Among this, foreign audiences and music professionals reacting to Chinese music and musicians are a particularly popular genre.

These videos, created by individuals from both China and other countries, have been warmly welcomed by netizens on various streaming and short-video platforms. They have transcended borders and languages as part of a trend of global online content consumption.

YouTube has become a hub for these reaction videos, where content creators from around the world react to Chinese music videos. Overseas people watching music videos from Chinese artists like Jay Chou and Zhou Shen have garnered millions of views. Singaporean JJ Lin is also among the most admired Chinese-singing musician in this scene. 

On platforms like Bilibili and ­Douyin, searches like "foreigners ­listening to Chinese songs" reveal a diverse range of reactions from individuals across countries like Japan, Russia, the US, the Netherlands and Malaysia. 

The songs featured in these videos vary from contemporary pop hits to traditional Chinese folk tunes, and instrumental performances on traditional Chinese instruments like the stringed erhu and guzheng (Chinese zither), and suona, a loud, high-pitched, trumpet-like Chinese musical instrument. They come in different formats, including music videos, live performances, and instrumental renditions.

In addition to pure reactions, some foreign content creators provide in-depth analyses, which include vocal techniques, artist presentation, stage design, and the comparison of Eastern and Western musical elements.

For example, a Bilibili user with over 1.2 million followers who goes by "Joe Creater" is one of the many popular foreign content creators of this kind. Joe's video showing his reaction to Jay Chou's "In the Name of the Father," garnered about 4.5 million views. 

These reaction videos, which also include reacting to Chinese TV dramas, offer entertainment value, often leading to humorous and inspiring moments of someone inundated in a foreign culture and showing amazement and appreciation. Viewers leave comments sharing their feelings about these videos and suggest new content for content creators to explore. 

The popularity of foreign reactions to Chinese music and musicians can be seen as an invaluable tool in increasing the international exposure of Chinese music. 

If foreigners, including regular internet users as well as music producers and companies, respond positively to Chinese music, it could inspire more people to explore this genre. This form of exposure serves as an effective promotional tool for music producers and artists seeking to broaden their reach beyond national boundaries.

For Chinese viewers who enjoy watching these videos, part of the appeal lies in gaining insight into how foreigners perceive their music and culture in general. 

When watching such videos, they can also feel resonance from these reactions, reminding them that despite geographical distances, people from different countries share similar emotional connections to music and art. It fosters a sense of unity and appreciation for the power of music as a universal language.

Furthermore, these videos represent a platform for Chinese netizens to showcase their nation's rich and diverse cultural works, both contemporary and traditional, as many believe that China's cultural products are still underrepresented in Western countries compared with "Western culture" seen in China. 

They serve as a testament to the young Chinese' cultural confidence and demonstrate the global relevance of Chinese music. Chinese netizens hope to introduce foreign audiences to their musical treasures because they want these excellent cultural works to be known and shared by more people. 

These videos also break down cultural barriers, fostering mutual understanding and friendship between people of different backgrounds. The power of music to transcend boundaries is evident in the global enthusiasm for Chinese songs.

As China continues to grow as an ancient and consistent civilization, this trend provides a unique opportunity for the international community to engage with its music and culture via the power of internet. 

It promotes a sense of unity and cultural exchange that transcends borders, promoting a world where music acts as a universal language that unites people from all corners of the globe.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. [email protected]